Questions No One Else Has Asked About The Trial Of Saddam Hussein

Vernon Coleman





I am not a fan of Saddam Hussein. From what I know of him he seems a pretty evil man - every bit as evil as Tony Blair and George W.Bush. But...

1. How do we know that the man on trial is really Saddam Hussein and not one of the many doubles the former Iraqi leader used? Are we expected to believe it's really Saddam Hussein because the Americans say it is? I wouldn't believe anything anyone in George Bush's Government told me.

2. How can Saddam Hussein get a fair trial when commentators all relentlessly refer to the fact that he is being tried for crimes he has committed? Surely, if the trial was a `proper' trial everyone would be talking about the crimes he is accused of and has `allegedly' committed?

3. Has anyone else noticed that the offence for which Saddam Hussein is being tried, allegedly occurred when America and Britain were still happily doing deals with him? And those wonderful pictures of Donald Rumsfeld grinning inanely alongside Saddam Hussein were taken years after the offence for which Saddam Hussein is now being tried. So, if what he did was forgiveable then why has it suddenly become so heinous now? Just asking, 'cus I'm confused (and I always enjoy embarrassing Rumsfeld).

4. Saddam Hussein's defence is that the trial is illegal because the invasion was illegal and his capture was illegal. Saddam's lawyers are undoubtedly correct. However, does anyone really believe that the Americans would have allowed the trial to go ahead if there had been the faintest chance that this defence would succeed? So, isn't this just a show trial - the sort of thing the old Soviet Union used to be so good at?

5. Why do commentators keep claiming that Saddam Hussein is hated by all the Iraqi people, and that all are delighted to see him in the dock, when a recent poll showed that Saddam is still one of the most popular politicians in Iraq? Just asking. Just puzzled.

Remember, I am not (repeat not) supporting Saddam Hussein.


Copyright Vernon Coleman, October 20th 2005 Home